Signal.



No. 763,563.: PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904.v H. L. JENNINGS.

SIGNAL.

Y APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 23. 1904. no MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented June 28, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

' SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,563, dated June 28, 1904. Application filed January 23,1904. SerialNo. 190,406. (No model) To all whmn it may concern.-

mentsin signaling devices, and has for its principal object to provide a signal-displaying mechanism to be used in attracting the attention of salesmen when housekeepers are 1n need of supplies of any character.

A further object of the invention is to pro- I vide a signaling" means to be used in front of A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel form of signaling means which may be operatedfrom any point within a house to'either open or iclose the signal-displaying mechanism. 1 I With these and other objects in view, as will hereinafter more fully appear, theinvention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit-or sacrificing any of the ad-v vantages of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a signaling device constructed in accordance with the invention,

, dicated by dotted lines.

milkmans sign is of blue and white.

designed to employ a means for displaying a suitable signal in front of a dwelling or other building in order to indicate to passing tradesmen the need of their services or wares, and in order to prevent the confusion which would result from the display of names, which would require close inspection, signals of pronounced character are used. Each of the signals is circular in, form, being preferably painted on glass, sothat at night it may be made visible by means of an electric or other light.

For the grocers sign it is preferred to use red, white, and blue stripes, with the white in the center. The butchers sign is of red and blue in equal proportion. The bakery-sign is of red and white inlequal proportion. The The vegetable-sign has a yellow center and blue border. The fuel-sign is of blue, red, and black, the red being disposed in the center. The ice-sign h as a white border with blueback ground and red star in the center. Thewater-sign has ared border and blue background and a white star in the center. The brewerysign has a blue border with a white background and a red star in the center. ,The tobacco-sign has a black border and red background and a white star in the center. The laundry-sign has a red border with a white center. The sign for whisky, wines, and alcoholic liquors has a white border with a red center. These several signals are in the nature of trade-marks, and the signals are arranged at houses or' other places, so that the drivers of wagons, delivery men, and persons taking orders for such supplies can readily see what is needed at particular p-laces, so that considerable time may be saved by both the persons selling and persons buying goods of different character. In case more than one firm or house is supplying the same place or house with the same article the signals are numbered in order to indicate the name of the firm desired.

The signal-displaying mechanisms are each provided with abase 1 and standard 2, which may be formed integral therewith, and the base is supplied with suitable openings for the passage of securing-screws 3. At the top of the standard 2 is arranged a semiglobular member 4, at the top of which is an orna- TOO mental knob 5, the upper portion of which maybe removed and replaced by an electric light, if desired. At the outer edge of the a shaft 10, the two forming pivots on which the member 9 may be turned in order to open or close the signal.

At the lower'endof the shaft 10 is secured a half-sheave 11, around which extends an operating cord or wire 12, that is secured at one end to the half-sheave, the cord or chain being guided by one or more rollers 13 to an operating means, such as 14, disposed within the house or building in front of which the signals are to be displayed. Around the lower portion of the shaft extends a torsionspring 15, having one end secured to the sheave and its opposite end to the base or standard, and this spring normally tends to maintain the semiglobular piece 9 in closed position or in that position (shown in Fig. 2,) where the two members 4 and 9 are so arranged as to form a practically complete globe.

The edge of the member 9 is thickened and is slightly cut away to form a groove or recess for the reception of a disk 17, formed of glass or other translucent material and on which the signal is painted. This glass is held in place by a suitable ring or bevel 18, which may be secured in place by screws or other fastenings. In the rear of the member 9 is arranged a socket for the reception of an incandescent lamp 19, that is arranged in a circuit, including a pair of panels 20 in the form of spring-plates that are disposed at one edge of the member 9, and when the latter is openedthese plates come into contact with similar plates 22, carried by the edge of the member 4, and automatically close the lampcircuit.

When it is desired to display the signal, a person within the house may turn the winding-shaft 25 and cause movement of the member 9 to the open position, the shaft being locked in place, so that the spring 15 will not be allowed to close the signal until the shaft is unlocked. As soon as the contact members of the lamp-circuit come into engagement with each other the lamp will glow and the signal will be displayed. Ordinarily the lamp-circuit will be energized during the late hours, although the current will not be wasted, inasmuch as the lamp itself will not be included in the circuit until the signal is opened. In day time the current will of course be cut off by an auxiliary switching mechanism, so that no current will be wasted when the signal is open.

The machines are of highly-ornamented character and may be placed in any position with the bases down or up and secured at any desired point outside the houseas, for instance, on the window-sill or upper portion of the doorway-and each house will be supplied with a number of signals in order to attract the attention of those tradesmen whose wares are most frequently required. As the signal may be operated from, within the house, the housekeeper may make her wants known to the tradesmen without unnecessary trouble and delay, and valuable time is saved both by the housekeeper and persons soliciting orders.

The signals employed have been carefully selected with a view of employing signs which may be of distinctive character and readily distinguished at a considerable distance in either the day-time or night, so that aperson traveling past the houses may very quickly take orders from those where the signals are displayed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In combination, an approximately semiglobular casing, an approximately semiglobular carrier movable to positions within and outside the casing, atranslucent sheet sup ported by the carrier and bearing a distinguishing trade mark or symbol, a lamp supported by the carrier, and means for automatically lighting the lamp when the carrier is moved to display the signal.

2. In combination, an approximately semiglobular casing, an approximately semiglobular carrier pivotally connected thereto, an electric lamp supported by the carrier, and a lamp-circuit including terminals that are automatically closed when the carrier is moved to display position.

3. In a means for displaying trade-signals, a translucent sheet bearing a trade mark or symbol, a revoluble carrier supporting the sheet, a easing into which the carrier may be turned, a spring normally tending to move the carrier to closed position, and a connecting means for permitting the operation of the carrier from a distant point.

4. In combination, a revoluble carrier, a translucent sheet bearing a distinguishing trade mark or symbol arranged at the front of the frame, a lamp or light arranged within the carrier to the rear of said translucent sheet, a casing into which the carrier may be partly turned, a shaft supporting the carrier and forming its pivot-point, a sheave connected to the lower end of the shaft, a flexible operating means connected to the sheave, and a spring tending to turn the shaft and carrier to conceal the translucent sheet.

5. In combination, a carrier, a translucent sheet bearing a distinctive trade mark or sigpivoted Within the edge of the casing, the carrier being movable to form a practically complete globe in connection with the casing, and a sheet bearing a distinctive trade mark or symbol supported by said carrier, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

HARRY L. JENNINGS.

Witnesses:

J. ABRAHAM, H. W. HORN. 

